HM3: Minor color update

At PsyckoSama's request, I have updated the HeroMachine 3 Alpha to show the hex value for a color swatch when moused over. I also made the box selectable, so after you click the color, you can highlight and copy the hex value in the name box, then paste it into the Custom Color hex box as a base for starting your new color. I'm not sure how helpful this is to most people, but it was easy enough to do and might help alleviate the pain for those who find the color swatch box hard to use for whatever reason.

Was the custom color option always there? If it as I feel kind of dumb for not seeing it before, however having the option to add in the hex code will help a lot when I start doing custom colors. (now that I know you can do custom colors)

Is it just me. Or if you put to much items… or too much of something on one character, does it start to glitch? Because Im making a character with a whole but load of wepons and equipment, and i have to save every time I finally put an object down… Please Jeff can you fix this or is it just my computer????

@Oquies(#5): Sorry to say, but yes, the custom color has always been there…

@Chase(#6): That is a known issue. I’d say that that is one of the reasons it’s still an alpha. Some people have gotten into a habit of using a photoshop-like program to do screen captures and then layer stuff so you can get more items in the same picture.

Chase, you are not alone. This certainly occurs for others, myself included. I am certain Jeff is aware of and working on a solution. I imagine it is likely to take a while until that bug is fixed so I encourage patience until then.

Yes, the laggard behavior with multiple items (particularly if you are patterning and/or masking) is a very big issue and I am well aware of it. Unfortunately it’s not so much a “bug” as it is “the engine needs to be rewritten to be as efficient as possible”. In other words, it’s not something that’s a quick fix like adding the hex value into the color description, but rather something that’s going to take a complete bottom-up code rewrite.

Thanks, Jeff. I’ve often wondered if it was just me or something in the system.
I’m wondering if, somewhere in the engine-rewriting process, there will also be precision controls for rotation and scaling. Something seems to be in place now (little arrows next to numbers; lock icons), but they don’t do anything. I’m just not that good at mouse manipulation. My wrist starts to hurt after trying to match orientations on multiple objects. I know the obvious answer is ‘be patient and don’t be a wuss’ but I can’t help but wonder.

Better controls are something I want to do, yes. The little arrows are “enter” buttons, basically, but that’s not at all clear. Basically you just type in whatever scale or rotation you want and click that button and it should apply to the current item.

Go for it Pudgii. You can also use the “contact us” link (the envelope) at the top of the right-hand column on every page. But you can post here if you prefer, I get an email for every posted comment regardless, so it’s all good.

I love the hero machine, this version even in it’s infancy is the best thus far, but similar to chase’s issue I’ve noticed that a) when loading a saved character, the pieces used are often jumbled, in some cases a mouth or other body part will appear that was never even selected let alone saved, b) when loading a saved character that contains patterning, the background will contain that patterning, and c) custom colors are replaced with white upon load. I understand that a significant amount of developing is still required, but I just thought I’d bring this to your attention in the off chance you were not aware.

ok it was about an image editor for HM3. where you could load items from your “library”(thats what i call the item database) or from your desktop to edit and add to your library and/or submit them to you or somebody for approval and adding to the “public library”. uses would be for making your own sword that can easily be duplicated, or putting a real picture as a background and using it like a stencil.you could also include drawing tools and the transform option from HM3.

I’ve been thinking along those general lines for a while, Pudgii, and I’d like to make that possible. However, it takes a working knowledge of (and access to a copy of) Flash, along with the requisite artistic skill to draw the items. So it’s tough to do. I could have a relatively simple “upload a static image” and have that available to folks, but it wouldn’t be colorable.

Oh, ok, I got you now — yes, that’s something I do want to do for the final release, make it so you can load and save not just characters but items as well, without losing what you already have. It would be great as well to make those saves shareable. Definitely something I want to do.

I thought you meant you wanted to be able to draw your own items from scratch and upload them, which is a whole different kettle of fish.

oh i meant that as a feature, but if its undoable then thats completely fine by me. but that also means i cant “stencil” a photo? (by that i mean making a photo the background and then putting stuff on top to mimic the poses as closely as possible)